Tổng hợp Idioms thông dụng chủ đề Ngoại hình và tính cách (Appearance and characteristics)
04 December, 2024Thành ngữ thông dụng
Miêu tả ngoại hình và tính cách con người bằng các Idioms thông dụng là một cách giúp bạn “ghi điểm” trong các phần thi cũng như khiến câu nói trở nên hấp dẫn, sinh động hơn. Trong bài viết này, azVocab giới thiệu danh sách idioms chủ đề Appearance and characteristics (ngoại hình và tính cách), giúp bạn hiểu rõ hơn về cách sử dụng chúng trong cuộc sống hàng ngày và trong giao tiếp tiếng Anh.
Tổng hợp Idioms thông dụng chủ đề Appearance (Bề ngoài)
Để miêu tả bề ngoài của con người hoặc sự vật, các bạn có thể tham khảo các Idioms trong bảng sau (sắp xếp theo mức độ thông dụng giảm dần):
| IDIOMS | MEANING | EXAMPLE |
| like two peas in a pod | very similar, especially in appearance (giống nhau, đặc biệt về ngoại hình) | The twins are like two peas in a pod. |
| look like a million dollars | to look exceptionally attractive or in very robust health (rất hấp dẫn hoặc đang trong trạng thái rất khỏe mạnh) | Wow, George looks like a million dollars in that new suit! |
| not judge a book by its cover | not know what something or someone is like by looking only at that person or thing’s appearance (không thể đánh giá chỉ qua vẻ bề ngoài) | That man may look very small and insignificant, but do not judge a book by its cover – he’s a very powerful man in his circle. |
| the spitting image of |
to look very similar to someone (nhìn rất giống ai đó) | She’s the spitting image of her mother. |
| long in the tooth |
getting on in years, old (có tuổi, có thâm niên, già) | Our poor cat is so long in the tooth that he struggles just walking around the house these days. |
| a world of difference | a lot of difference (between A and B) (sự khác biệt rất lớn) | There’s a world of difference between your old junker, and, well, any car on the market. |
| have seen better days | to be or look particularly shabby, ill-kept, or in poor condition (đã rất tồi tàn, trong tình trạng kém, hỏng hóc) | That jacket has seen better days. Why don’t you get a new one? |
| turn heads |
to capture people’s attention due to being exceptionally interesting, beautiful, unusual, or novel (thu hút sự chú ý nhờ vào sự thú vị, xinh đẹp, lạ thường) | The new concept car is really turning heads at the auto show and attracting a lot of press. |
| look like something the cat brought in | to look exhausted, worn out, untidy, or dirty (nhìn có vẻ mệt mỏi, bẩn thỉu,…) | After an afternoon playing out in the back yard, the kids came back looking like something the cat brought in. |
| along the lines of | roughly similar to something; like something, though not exactly the same (dựa trên hoặc giống cái gì đó) | Well, that’s along the lines of what I have in mind for the new kitchen, but there are a few tweaks you need to make before it’s right. |
| easy on the eye |
pleasant to look at (ai đó/cái gì đó đẹp) | My next-door neighbor is quite easy on the eye. |
| (as) pretty as a picture | very pretty (rất xinh đẹp) | Michelle looks as pretty as a picture in this photo. |
| the odd one out | a person or thing that is different from or kept apart from others that form a group or set (người khác biệt) | She was always the odd one out at school – she didn’t have many friends. |
| can’t keep someone’s eyes off | cannot stop looking at someone or something because it is so beautiful, visually pleasing, interesting (không thể rời mắt khỏi ai/cái gì) | Your little girl is so adorable – I just can’t keep my eyes off of her! |
| no oil painting | to not be attractive (có vẻ ngoài không hấp dẫn) | She’s no oil painting but she’s got an attractive personality. |
| face doesn’t fit | one’s physical appearance or behavior is not well-suited for a specific job or task (ngoại hình không phù hợp với công việc nào đó) | That girl’s pretty enough, but her face just doesn’t fit for a couture ad campaign. |
| (as) ugly as sin | very ugly (rất xấu) | I’m sure I looked as ugly as sin by that point, with my makeup smeared all over the place and my hair a total mess. |
| stand out like a sore thumb | to be very noticeable or attracting attention (nổi bật, dễ gây chú ý) | I grew up in California, so when I moved to Minnesota, I stood out like a sore thumb. |
| (as) thin as a rake | extremely skinny or slender (rất gầy) | I’ve always been as thin as a rake, even when I tried to gain weight. |
| (as) straight as a ramrod | very straight (rất thẳng) | The old lady’s back is still as straight as a ramrod. |
| a dog’s breakfast | something or someone that looks extremely untidy, or something that is very badly done (sự bừa bộn; tình trạng hỗn độn, lộn xộn) | I really need to clean out my closet – it’s starting to look like a dog’s breakfast in there. |
| catch someone’s eye | to get someone’s attention (thu hút sự chú ý) | That dress in the window caught my eye immediately – can I try it on? |
Chơi game trên azVocab để ôn tập các idioms chủ đề Appearance thông dụng nhất:
Tổng hợp Idioms thông dụng chủ đề Characteristics (Đặc điểm, tính cách)
| IDIOMS | MEANING | EXAMPLE |
| (as) cold as stone | completely bereft or devoid of emotion, concern, or empathy (rất lạnh lùng, vô cảm) | The killer sat as cold as a stone when she heard the verdict being handed down. |
| a leopard can’t change its spots | one will stay true to one’s nature, even if one pretends or claims otherwise (giang sơn dễ đổi, bản tính khó rời) | You’re never going to convince Tom about this – he’s too stubborn, and a leopard can’t change its spots. |
| the salt of the earth | an ordinary person who is respected because they are honest and good (người tốt lành, lương thiện) | Mrs. Jones is the salt of the earth. She is the first to help anyone in trouble. |
| wouldn’t hurt a fly | to harm nothing or no one, said of one who is particularly gentle, shy, diffident, or timid by nature (rất hiền lành, không làm hại đến ai) | My brother is a very sweet, warm-hearted man who wouldn’t hurt a fly. |
| son of a gun | a worthless person (người xấu tính/khó chịu) | That tightfisted son of a gun won’t buy me a beer. |
| two of a kind | very similar, typically in interests, dispositions, or beliefs (rất giống nhau, đặc biệt về sở thích, niềm tin,…) | Those kids have the same wacky sense of humor – they’re truly two of a kind. |
| as if someone own the place | in a way that is too confident (tự cao, tự mãn) | Ugh, the boss’s son always walks through the office as if he owns the place. |
| have a heart | to be kind and compassionate (có tấm lòng, tốt bụng, từ bi) | Your sister has a migraine, so have a heart and turn down the TV. |
| would give someone the shirt off someone’s back | is very generous and selfless (hào phóng) | I’m not surprised that Tammy loaned you money – she would give anyone the shirt off her back. |
| be someone’s own person/man/woman | to act, think, or work independently; to not accept or be swayed by outside influences (tự làm chủ bản thân mình, có suy nghĩ và hành động độc lập) | You can’t just accept everything you read in the media – you have to be your own man. |
| a pain in the neck | someone or something that is very annoying (phiền phức, gây khó chịu) | He was a pain in the neck. I was glad when he left my department. |
| man of his word | someone who keeps their promises (người nói là làm, người biết giữ lời hứa) | You can trust him. He has never failed us. He’s a man of his word. |
| have a heart of gold | a sincere, generous, and kind nature (tốt bụng, rộng lượng, lương thiện) | Sarah always goes out of her way to help everyone she can – she really has a heart of gold. |
| have a heart of stone | to be unkind or cruel (độc ác) | The villain in the play had a heart of stone. He was cruel to everyone. |
| a mine of information | someone or something that contains a lot of knowledge about a particular topic (ai hay cái gì chứa rất nhiều thông tin, kiến thức về một chủ đề nào đó) | You should ask Amanda for advice about your cake recipe – she’s a mine of information about baking. |
| not playing with a full deck | not very bright or intelligent; dimwitted (không thông minh) | Jim’s a nice guy, but with some of the foolish things he does, I wonder if he’s not playing with a full deck. |
| a woman of many parts | a woman who is capable of doing many things (giỏi việc nước đảm việc nhà) | Ruth is a woman of many parts – she’s a loving mother, a successful industry leader, and a great cook. |
| built on sand | to be unstable (kém vững chắc, bấp bênh) | A relationship based entirely on physical attraction is built on sand and won’t last long. |
| below the belt | (of a remark) unfair or cruel (không công bằng; tàn nhẫn; không đúng luật) | I know she really wants the promotion, but telling the boss about my personal problems was below the belt. |
| (as) safe as houses | very safe, to be protected (rất an toàn) | I locked your jewelry in a drawer, so it’s as safe as houses. |
| go with a swing | if an event, especially a party, goes with a swing, it is very exciting and successful ((một sự kiện, bữa tiệc) rất sôi nổi, vui vẻ và thành công mỹ mãn) | I think a celebrity appearance will really help your party go with a swing. |
| a fly on the wall | one who is able to observe something closely but invisibly and without interfering in the situation (người có thể quan sát người khác mà không làm ảnh hưởng đến họ hay họ không hề hay biết) | I would love to be a fly on the wall in John’s house when he finds out his wife bought a new car without telling him. |
| the life and soul of the party | someone who brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to a social event (người là trung tâm của buổi tiệc) | Bill is definitely the life and soul of the party – he’s currently trying to get everyone up to dance! |
| (as) bright as a button | very intelligent and quick to learn (thông minh, tiếp thu nhanh, minh mẫn) | Ted’s as bright as a button, so he’ll find a solution to this problem. |
| suit someone down to the ground | to be ideal for one (lý tưởng, phù hợp đối với ai) | I’m cold all the time, so this hot weather really suits me down to the ground. |
| leave a lot to be desired | to be very inadequate or unsatisfactory; to lack a large amount of what is desired or required (còn thiếu sót, còn kém, còn phải cải thiện nhiều) | The film has a very interesting premise and a story that has quite a bit of potential, but the final product leaves a lot to be desired. |
| no fool | to not be stupid or easily deceived (khôn ngoan, láu cá; không ngu dại) | I notice Ed didn’t offer to pay for her – he’s no fool. |
| like gold dust | very valuable and, as a result, difficult to find or attain (quý hiếm) | Even with so many people looking to rent in the city at the moment, good tenants are still like gold dust here. |
| a tower of strength | someone who is very dependable and provides a great deal of support or encouragement, especially in times of trouble or difficulty (người có thể được trông cậy để mang lại giúp đỡ và nguồn an ủi trong lúc khó khăn) | Mary has been a tower of strength ever since my mother fell ill. |
| stand on someone’s own two feet | to be strong and independent; to not need the help, guidance, or resources of another person (có khả năng tự lập, tự túc mà không cần sự trợ giúp của người khác) | After you’ve spent three years being funded by parents, suddenly it’s all over and you’re expected to stand on your own two feet. |
| not all it’s cracked up to be |
to not be as good as people have said (không tốt như mọi người nói) | Don’t get your hopes up – I’ve heard this roller coaster is not all it’s cracked up to be. |
| (as) blind as a bat | unable to see well (không nhìn thấy gì hoặc có tầm nhìn/thị lực rất kém) | I’m as blind as a bat without my glasses. |
| (as) light as a feather | very light (nhẹ tựa lông hồng) | The material in the coat is durable and waterproof, but feels as light as a feather. |
| (as) strong as an ox |
very strong (rất khỏe) | You should get Bert to help you move all this furniture – he’s as strong as an ox. |
| (as) fresh as a daisy | to be full of energy and enthusiasm (đầy năng lượng và nhiệt huyết) | After getting some sleep, I was as fresh as a daisy. |
| (as) quiet as a mouse | very quiet or silent (rất im lặng) | I just can’t believe that Kate actually yelled at Mike – she’s usually as quiet as a mouse! |
| a chip off the old block | someone who is very similar in character to their father or mother (giống hệt bố hoặc mẹ) | You must be a chip off the old block, Kate – I remember your mother being a really good artist too. |
| a ray of sunshine | a happy person who makes others feel happy, especially in a difficult situation (người lạc quan, tích cực) | We love looking after our grandchild. He’s a ray of sunshine! |
| too clever by half | to be too confident of your own intelligence in a way that annoys other people (tự mãn, tự cao vì trí thông minh) | She was too clever by half – always correcting the teacher or coming back with a smart answer. |
| a breath of fresh air | someone or something that is new and different and makes everything seem more exciting (một cái gì đó mới và làm mọi thứ thú vị) | Angela’s so cheerful and lively – she’s like a breath of fresh air when she visits. |
| a rough diamond | a person who is kinder and more pleasant than they seem to be from their appearance and manner (một người chưa phát triển đầy đủ khả năng nhưng có triển vọng thành công lớn) | Mrs. White seems to have a devil of a temper, but she is a rough diamond. |
| (as) plain as the nose on my face | to be very obvious (rõ rành rành) | In the end, the solution was as plain as the nose on my face. |
| blood and guts | extreme violence (vô cùng bạo lực) | There was too much blood and guts in the movie for my liking. |
| laughing stock | someone or something that seems stupid or silly, especially by trying to be serious or important and not succeeding (trò cười) | Another performance like that and this team will be the laughing stock of the league. |
| (as) flat as a pancake | very level (rất phẳng) | In some parts of the West, the land is as flat as a pancake. |
| cheap and cheerful | cheap but good or enjoyable (rẻ nhưng có chất lượng tốt) | There’s a restaurant round the corner that serves cheap and cheerful food. |
| a fine line | a very narrow division between two deceptively similar things, one of which is worse than the other (ranh giới mỏng manh) | A: “I only borrowed your sweater, I swear!” – B: “Well, it’s a fine line between borrowing and stealing, isn’t it?” |
| not go amiss | to be helpful and appreciated (hữu ích, có giá trị, được coi trọng/đánh giá cao) | An extra pair of hands in the kitchen would not go amiss, you know. |
| chink in someone’s armor | a minor but very detrimental flaw or weakness (điểm yếu nhỏ nhưng có thể gây thiệt hại, bất lợi không ngờ tới) | Yeah, he’s brilliant, but his violent temper has destroyed many business relationships – it’s a real chink in his armor. |
| (as) dead as a dodo | to not be important or popular any longer (lỗi thời; kém phổ biến hơn; ít quan trọng hơn) | Although popular in the 1970s, disco music is as dead as a dodo today. |
| there’s more to someone than meets the eye | a person or thing is more complicated or interesting than you might think at first (còn có những ẩn ý, khía cạnh khác mà ban đầu không nhìn ra) | Don’t discount Fred as a candidate for this job – there’s more to him than meets the eye. |
| (as) keen as mustard | very eager and interested in everything (hớn hở, nhiệt tình, hăng hái hết sức) | I’m as keen as mustard to play in the school team. |
| a wolf in sheep’s clothing | a person with a pleasant and friendly appearance that hides the fact that they are evil (sói đội lốt cừu, khẩu phật tâm xà) | Don’t trust Dana – she’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing who will try to steal your position if given the chance. |
| (as) thick as two short planks | very stupid (cực kì ngu ngốc) | Because she’s a model, people assume she’s as thick as two short planks, but she isn’t. |
| (as) stubborn as a mule | extremely reluctant or unwilling to change a particular opinion, behavior, or course of action, especially when faced with opposition (cứng đầu, ngang bướng; thân lừa ưa nặng) | My toddler is as stubborn as a mule, and he’ll throw a tantrum any time he doesn’t get what he wants. |
| (as) slippery as an eel | devious and untrustworthy, but impossible to catch (ranh ma, láu cá, lươn lẹo) | Don’t sign a lease with that landlord; I think he’s as slippery as an eel. |
| leave a bad taste in my mouth |
to give one a negative impression (based on something that has already happened) (gây ấn tượng xấu (do cách ăn nói)) | The way they conducted the interview left a bad taste in my mouth. I don’t think I’d accept the job even if they offered it. |
| a party animal | a person who loves going to parties (người rất thích tiệc tùng, xã giao nhiều) | John is a real party animal. He’s never at home. |
| class clown | acting a fool (người hay gây hài) | He never got over his reputation of being the class clown. |
| eyes like a hawk |
having extremely keen sight (có thị lực đặc biệt tốt hoặc rất tinh ý) | Craig managed to find my key in the long grass. He’s got eyes like a hawk. |
| like chalk and cheese | very different (hoàn toàn khác biệt) | It’s hard to imagine that Mark and John are brothers – they’re like chalk and cheese. |
| (as) poor as a church mouse | very poor (rất nghèo) | My father was as poor as a church mouse growing up, so his sole focus was to give his kids every opportunity in life that he missed out on. |
| a shoulder to cry on | someone who is willing to listen to your problems and give you sympathy, emotional support, and encouragement (người ở bên lắng nghe và động viên bạn khi bạn buồn hay gặp khó khăn) | Janine needed a shoulder to cry on after she lost her job, so she came over to my apartment. |
| a lone voice in the wilderness | someone who expresses an unpopular opinion or idea (người đưa ra ý kiến, ý tưởng không thường thấy, kì lạ) | She felt like a lone voice in the wilderness as she tried to warn others about the impending economic collapse. |
Chơi game trên azVocab để ôn tập các idioms chủ đề Characteristics thông dụng nhất:
Như vậy qua bài viết, các bạn đã có thể thêm vào kho kiến thức của mình các Idioms phổ biến thuộc chủ đề Appearance and characteristics. Hy vọng các bạn có thể áp dụng chúng linh hoạt, hiệu quả trong thực tế.
